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Darts ace Wolfie takes aim at prostate cancer in new partnership with sport

Three-time world champion Martin 'Wolfie' Adams has dominated the darts circuit for over 30 years. As Prostate Cancer UK announces a new partnership with the British Darts Organisation, he tells us about his toughest opponent yet following his diagnosis with prostate cancer earlier this year, and how he's working with us and our volunteers to raise awareness and funds in the darts community.

Christmas and New Year is a busy time for the world of darts. with both the PDC (Professional Darts Corporation) and the BDO (British Darts Organisation) World Championships taking place back-to-back.

Martin ‘Wolfie’ Adams has played in both competitions during his 24-year professional career, winning the BDO title three times. But in March this year, the 60-year-old was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and he admits it’s changed his perspective ahead of his quest for a fourth BDO title in January.

“When I was diagnosed, prostate cancer wasn’t even on my radar, I had no symptoms whatsoever,” he tells us. “I found out purely by chance, having visited my GP for something else – ironically, to stop smoking.”

I feel lucky this was all picked up before it spread and I’m remaining positive

After an initial blood test, further tests and biopsies revealed a trace of prostate cancer. Then it was time to decide what to do.

“I opted for hormone treatment and radiotherapy,” he says. “That started in August and finished mid-September. I feel lucky this was all picked up before it spread and I’m remaining positive.”

Supported by his partner, Leigh, and his two sons – as well as the wider darts community – Martin is embracing his new role as an ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK, and can regularly be seen wearing our iconic pin-badge.

“It has meant men have started opening up to me about their own prostate cancer experiences, which can only be a good thing,” he says. “Us men are usually a bit shy about talking about our health – especially ­something like this, which you don’t want to shout about from the rooftops.”

Tracy and Wolfie posing with our 'Man of Men' logo

Now, thanks to the incredible efforts of fundraiser Tracy-Ann Fletcher – whose tireless ‘Team Darts’ contingent of friends and family have raised almost £20,000 for us – the BDO have partnered up with Prostate Cancer UK to further spread awareness of the most common cancer in men.

Tracy and her partner Danny – who like Martin, is fighting prostate cancer and has an aggressive form of the disease – have sold more than 600 darts shirts and countless pin badges for the charity at high-profile darts events across the UK. The BDO has now pledged to help sell our pin-badge across all 66 of their county leagues.

Aided by Martin’s powerful story, we want this partnership to further galvanise fans of darts

“Men over the age of 50 are more at risk of developing prostate cancer – and with many county players in that age bracket, it made the association a natural one for both parties,” says BDO’s tournament director, Wayne Williams.

“Aided by Martin’s powerful story, we want this partnership to further galvanise fans of darts.”

And it’s not only Wolfie who’s getting involved. Tracy is busy recruiting legends from across the sport, including Ross “The Boss” Montgomery, Northern Ireland’s Colin McGarry, and current BDO Champion Glen Durrant. She’s also succeeded in getting 14-time PDC World Champion Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor to wear our pin-badge while playing in this year’s tournaments.

So it looks like Prostate Cancer UK is going to be seen across the board in darts. Let's hope, like Wolfie's arrows, we hit the target of saving even more men from this terrible disease.

Darts

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The Royal College of Surgeons finds 90 per cent of men who had surgery or radiotherapy to cure their prostate cancer on the English NHS rated their care as very good. But Prostate Cancer UK is concerned that over-treatment of men with low-risk localised disease hasn't declined.